Fascinating tissue landscapes on a cruise
Science Shot by the Hauser Research Group on the MS Wissenschaft
A spectacular insight into the world of research has been made possible through the collaboration between dentist Dr Aysegül Adam (Department of Periodontology, Oral Medicine and Oral Surgery at Charité) and Dr Sandy Kroh and Henrike Germar from the Immunodynamics Research Group led by Prof. Dr Anja Hauser (DRFZ and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin): A high-resolution microscopic image of the oral mucosa is coming aboard the MS Wissenschaft. The image, which previously graced the Charité’s ‘Science Rocks’ desk calendar, is now part of an interactive quiz and can be admired by visitors to the MS Wissenschaft from 7 May 2026.
The MS Wissenschaft: Experience the medicine of the future
The MS Wissenschaft is a floating science centre run by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), which has attracted around 80,000 visitors annually for the past 20 years. This year, the exhibition is themed ‘Medicine of the Future’ and brings current research to life for the general public free of charge. The journey begins in Berlin at Schiffbauerdamm, where the ship will be moored from 7 to 10 May (between the Friedrichstraße railway bridge and the Marschallbrücke). The floating exhibition centre will then set off on its journey, stopping in many cities across Germany, Austria and Poland.
A look inside the tissue: when inflammation becomes visible
The image on display was captured using the modern microscopy technology MELC (Multi-Epitope Ligand Cartography) and shows the chronically inflamed oral mucosa of a patient with periodontitis. The image illustrates the complex interplay of cells: yellow-coloured immune cells accumulate in the immediate vicinity of the vessels shown in pink. The cell nuclei glow green, whilst the structural components of the tissue appear blue. This technology makes it possible to visualise a variety of cell types simultaneously and analyse their spatial relationships. These ‘cell neighbourhoods’ represent complex networks in which immune cells, blood vessels, structural cells and signalling molecules constantly interact and influence one another.
Research into new therapies
Behind this fascinating image lies close collaboration between researchers and clinicians. Dr Sandy Kroh and Henrike Germar from the Hauser research group, together with dentist Dr Aysegül Adam, are investigating how acute gum inflammation develops into a destructive process and leads to chronic periodontitis. Periodontitis affects half of the adult population worldwide and often leads to bone and tooth loss. Research at the DRFZ also places a particular focus on the as yet unexplained link between periodontitis and rheumatic diseases, in which a compromised oral mucosal barrier and local immune cells may play a central role. The aim is to gain a better understanding of these cellular interactions in order to develop targeted therapies for the future.
All interested parties are warmly invited to embark on a voyage of discovery aboard the MS Wissenschaft and actively experience the medicine of the future.
Immune Dynamics
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Photo: Evelyn Olajide
